I agree completely with Eye on Williamson: This Statesman article on how school districts spend their money, doesn't tell us anything we don't already know. Different districts have different needs, and they're in a better position to know what those needs are than the Governor. Which is why, once again, that the 65 Percent Rule that Rick Perry imposed by magisterial fiat last year, is so utterly misguided.

Note well:

The study also found greater spending variations when it compared higher- and lower-performing districts among their peers in the same class than when comparing higher- and lower-performing districts to each other.

For example, Palo Pinto, a small district outside of Fort Worth that was rated exemplary by the state, spent less than 50 percent on instruction in the 2003-04 school year because it has higher transportation and utility costs, Clark said.

By comparison, the Hamilton school district near Waco, also rated exemplary that year, spent about 64 percent.

Lower-performing districts tended to spend more on instruction than higher-performing districts.

Different districts have different needs. One size does not fit all. Why is this so hard?
Posted by Charles Kuffner on March 21, 2006 to Budget ballyhoo
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It's hard because the simple-minded that follow people like Perry believe that as long as it's got a catchy slogan or corporate support it's gotta be good. The 65% Ruse has both so it even better, new and improved, as they say in the slogan business.